Moscow, May 13 (ANI) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday reassured that India’s interests in Russian energy supplies “will not be affected,” saying Moscow remains committed to ensuring stable deliveries to New Delhi despite what he described as unfair competition.
In an interview with RT India ahead of his visit to India for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Lavrov said Russia continues to honor its agreements with partner countries even amid heightened geopolitical tensions. He accused the United States of attempting to dominate global energy corridors and exert pressure on countries that maintain energy ties with Russia.
“Their goal is to seize everything, to seize all energy routes that are important,” Lavrov said, adding that he was confident India understood the situation. He reiterated that Russia would do its utmost to prevent what he called unfair play from disrupting existing arrangements.
Lavrov criticised Western governments, particularly in Europe, for reducing their dependence on Russian energy for political reasons rather than market-driven considerations. He argued that some European decisions to end contracts for Russian oil and gas were punitive measures intended to punish Russia rather than responses to objective supply factors.
“We do not punish anyone and we treat our commitments in good faith,” Lavrov said, stressing that Russia intends to live up to agreements with both friendly and non-friendly countries.
He also accused Western powers of abandoning agreements and pursuing economic dominance by cancelling arrangements and imposing penalties on others. Regarding Europe’s energy outlook, Lavrov warned that restrictions on Russian oil and gas imports have contributed to an economic and energy crunch, and said Europe may increasingly rely on higher-priced US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
“They put Europe into a dire crisis. Energy-wise and food-wise, probably Europe will be the one to be affected the most,” he said, referring to broader geopolitical tensions including instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
Lavrov’s remarks come amid ongoing sanctions on Russian exports and continuing geopolitical disputes affecting global energy markets. India has consistently said its energy procurement choices are guided by national interest and energy security needs, while engaging with multiple partners to secure stable and affordable supplies.
(This report is based on a syndicated feed from ANI.)
